Pressure-equalizing shower mixer



sept. 16, 924. 1,508,938 F. w. POWERS ET AL v l PRESSURE EQUALIZING SHOWER MIXER Filed March 16. 1923l Patented sept is, 1924.

umran STATES FRED W. POWERS AND MORTON O. SNEDIKEB, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS TO THE POWERS LINOIS.

PBESSURE-EQUALIZING- SHOWER- MIXER.

Application led March 16, 1923. Serial No. 625,472.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, FRED W. POWERS and MonroN O. SNEDIKER, citizens of the Unitel States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Pressure-Equalizing Shower Mixer, of, which the following yis a spe-cication.

This application relates to devices suoli as described in the title hereof and is a continuation in part of our application Ser. No.

567 ,692, filed June 12, 1922. One of the particular objects of our invention is to improve the form of pressure equalizing shower controllers, to apply certain safeguards thereto and generally render such devices more practical and efficient.

To that end we provide means in connection with the shower controller for limiting the extent of opening thereof and consequently limiting the temperature of the mixed liquids.

A further improvement relates to the con? struction of the mixing valve employed in the shower controller. A

The invention will be better understood by reference to theeaccompanying drawing, wherein,

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional View taken through a device constructed in accordance with our invention, the view being taken on the irregular line 1-1 of Fig. 2, and,

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1.

In the drawings it will be seen that We provide a casing having hot and cold water inlets 10, 11, respectively, a mixed liquid outlet 12, a chamber 13, Jfor the mixed liquids, a chamber or passage 14, for the hot liquid and a chamber or passage 15, Jfor the cold liquid. Provided as a part of the casing is the cylinder 16, within which the equalizing piston is mounted, anda cylinder 17, within which .the controller valve is located. -The valve indicated at 18 is of tubular, eylindrical form and is mounted for reciprocation within the cylinder 17. The valve is provided with a plurality of rows of radial apertures 19, 20, 21, the rst mentioned serving to admit cold liquid, the second men tioned admitting hot liquid and the third mentioned discharging the two liquids into the chamber 13. A stem 22 adapted to be actuated by a handle 23, carries a threaded portion 24. The rounded end 25 of the stem abuts the projecting end 26, of the mixing valve and the valve is positively moved toward the closed position by the action of the parts just described. A spring 27 serves to move the valve outwardly when permitted by the operating stem. A sealing valve 28 is carried on the portion 26 of the mixing valve and when the mixing valve is in its extreme rearward osition, the valve 28 is seated and escape ci) any liquid is prevented. 1t will be noted that the mixing valve is hollow and that the liquids in the chambers 14, 15, pass through the radial openings, then longitudinally and out through the radial openings 22. This provides a snnple con struction of maximum capacity.

It will be noted that the valve 28 is seconda-ry in operation and serves only as a precautionary shut-0E. The cylindrical valve member 18 is carefully tted in the cylindrical valve passage and the liquids which are admitted through the radial openings which communicate with the supply passages, cannot escape except through the radial openings 21, and in the position shown in the drawings no cold'liquid can escape even though the valve 28 be moved away from its seat, until the uncovering of the openings 21 begins. l

The construction illustrated isfof particular advantage in another feature, rom the standpoint of manufacture. As stated, the tubular valve member is carefully fitted into the cylindrical seat and the separael valve actuating stem 22 is provided with relatively coarse threads carried in a threaded bonnet. By making the valve and the actuating member separate a nicety of it of the valve member may be secured without any attempt to effect an accurate alignment with the screw-threaded bonnet which carries the actuating stem.

As a means for positively limiting ther extent of opening of the` mixing valve we provide a screw-threaded stop member 29, the adjusting head of which is covered by a cap 30. The projectingv end 31 may be moved into the path of the head of the -mixing valve and prevent its outward move- REGULATOR C0., 0F GHICAGQ ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF IL- l jections or lingers 45, 46, on their outside 2a the intermediatewall 49 of the piston. The

The projecting end. being tapered as shown, -provldes for t e necessary latitude of movement.

The pressure equalizing structure (as best- -reduced threaded'portions v41, 42,'engaged by nutsc43, 44, said nuts having lateral profaces, which projections register with depressions or recesses 47, 48,'in the faces of nuts 43, 44, are somewhat larger in diameter than the stems 37, 38, and the nuts 50,51, which surround the stems provide means for retaining the parts in the position shown in the drawings, the openings through the nuts bein only slightlyA greater'in diameter than the iameter of the stems 37, 38.- The .construction just described facilitates manufacture as it provides for certain allowable variations between the centers of the piston and the respective valves and stems.

It will be noted. that the portion of the valve stems adjacent to the valves is materially yreduced in diameter thus providing la shoulder opposed to the valve face and of similar area when the valve is in closed position. This serves to equalize thel pressure which would otherwise tend to open the valve.

A spring 52 is mounted in the end cap 4 and serves normally tomaintain the piston in a position in which the hot water inlet is closed in. the event that the cold water supply is completely interrupted. This provision assures that in the event of a complete `shut-off of the cold water no hot water will be delivered through the mixing valve. In normal operation, it being assumed that the ventrance pressures of the hot and cold-liquids are the same, the piston will remain in such position that both inlet ports are open. If, however, there is any fluctuation in the entrance pressures of either of the liquids it will be immediately indicated in the chambers 14, 15, and the greater pressure being exerted on the end of the piston will correspondin ly close the entrance valve for said liquid o greater pressure and the pressure will therefore be instantly equalized in the twochambers 14, 15. This may or maynot, in accordance withy the construction provided, result in a lessened total volume of liquid flowing.

While we have herein referred to the use.l

:lanzoaees of the device in connection with hot and cold liquids it will be understood that steam may be utilized as the tempering element instead of hot water. It is, furthermore, unimportant if the steam pressure varies or is constantly at a pressure more or less than lthat of the cold liquid.

The device is capable of considerable modification and we do not wish to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, means roviding separate passages for hot and ccsd fluids, anda controlling valve of cylindrical tubular form a separate screw-threaded-actuating member, said valve having a plurality I of rows of radial openings positioned to be successively brought into register with said passages and said valve being provided with a plurality of additional radial openings adapted to provide for the passage of the combined fluids.

2. In a device `of the'class described, the combination of a casing, means providing separate passages for hot and cold fluids,

and a controlling valve of cylindricalv tu-V bular form a separate screw-threaded actuating. member, said valve having a plurality of rows of' radial openings positioned to be successively brought into register with said passages and said valve being provided with aplurality of additio'nal radial openings adapted to providey for the passage of the combined fluids, and av'second valve movable with said controlling yalve and adaptedto close the passages against the escape of any liquid.

3. In combination, a casing, means providing separate inlet passages for hot and cold fluids and an outlet passage for the mixed fluids, a cylinder in said casing, a cylindrical tubular valve closely fitting said cylinder and having a plurality of circular rows of radial openings positioned to be successively brought into register with the cold and hot fluid inlet passages and also provided with a row of radial openmgs acting as discharge outlets and adapted to be uncovered upon the movement of the valve to a point at which said last named radlal openings are outside of the limits of said cylinder.

4. In combination, a casing, means providin separate inlet passages for hot and cold `iluids .and au outlet passage for the mixed fluids, a cylinder in 4said caslngha cylindrical tublar'valve closely fitting said cylinder and having a plurality of circular rows of radial o enings positioned to be successively broug t into register with the cold and hot fluid inlet passages and .also provided with a row of radial openings acting as discharge outlets and adapted to rows of; radial opxenings positioned to be successivel broug tinto register with the cold and ot 'fluid inlet passages and also provided with a. row of radial o enings acting as discharge outlets and a a ted to be uncovered upon the movement o the valve to a 'point at which said last named radial openings are outside of the limits of said cylinder, a se arate screw-threaded valve actuating mem er for'moving'the valve in one direction, and a spring for moving the valve in the opposite direction.

' positely' of said cylinder, a valve fixed to 6. In combination, a casing, means providin separate inlet passages for hot and cold, uids and an outlet passage for the mixed fluids, a cylinder in said cas/ing, a cylindrical tubular valve 'closely tting said cylinder and having a plurality of circular rows of radial 'oplenings positioned to be successively broug t into register with the cold and hot Huid inlet assages and also providedV with a lrow, o radial openings acting as discharge outlets and adapted to be uncovered upon the movement of the valve to a point at which said last named radial openings are outside of the. limits the end of said cylindrical valve and adapted to seat against the end walls of said cylinder2 a separate screw-threaded valve actuating member for moving the valve in one direction, and a spring for moving the `valve in the o posite direction.

7.' n a shower controller, of a casin for hot the combination and cold i'luids land an out et for mixed uids a valve for controlling the .mixing of mi sans, and pressure ualizing means mounted in said casing, sai means comprising a lgiston, tioned valves movab' with gston, t e res ectiver ends of the piston ing open tot e (pressures ofA liquids after having passed sai valves, and means provided for limiting freedom of lateral move- 'ment in the connection between said valves in, opposite y 'positioned Vand saidp'iston.

8. In a 'shower the combination of a casing, a

an outlet passage for the -a casing providing a ressure equalizing'piston therel valvesiaxially' ary l ranged relative to said piston, and means in the connection between said valves and piston permitting limited freedom of movement transversely of the piston.

9. In a mixing valve, the combination of a casing, a pressure ualizing piston, a valve and valve stem' axially arranged and. projecting from each end of said piston,

y and a connection permitting limited freedom of movement between the valve stems and thepiston.

10. In a shower mixer, the combination oi a casingproviding a cylinder, a pressure in said cylinder, recessed valve seats and acting as valves 'adapted to cooperualizing piston p ugs providing cylinder heads, ate with said seats, valve stems through the heads and connected to sai piston, said valve stems bein constructed to balance the pressures exerted on said valves.

11. In a shower mixer, the combination of linder, a pressure equaliziing piston in sai cylinder, recessed plugs providing valve seats 'and acting as` cylinder heads, valves adapted' to cooperate with said seats, valve lstems projecting through the heads and connected to said piston, said valve stems being constructed to balance the pressures exerted on said valves, and means providing a connection rmitting tween the valve stems and piston.

12. In a shower mixerglthe combination of .a casing, a reciprocaible mixing valve adapted to successivel uncover first the cold and then the 4hot fluid ports, and an adjustable stop adapted to profeet into the path of movement of the vave Ort, and to limit the 'extent to which the ot fluid ports are uncovered.

13. In a shower mixer, the combination of a casing, a reciprocable mixing valve adalpted to successively uncover cold and ot uid ports, and a limiting stop adjustable by movement at right angles to the line of reciprocation of said valve and adapted tobe itioned to limit the degree of uncovering ofthe hot luid ports. 14. In a mixing valve, a casing, a valve ada ted -tof successively uncover cold and hot uid orts, a'screw-- threaded actuating member or moving said valve in one direction and a spring f or moving the valve in an opposite direction, and an adjustable lstop y ward movement of. the'valve independent ofthe movement of the actuating member. Si ed at Chicago, I1linois,ltlns 13 day Of arch, l

- rnnnwrownns MoirroN o.l simnixieiii.v A

the combination of proj eating4 limited freedom of movement y acting to limit the out- 

